Within the project SURE (Novel Productivity Enhancement Concept for a Sustainable Utilization of a Geothermal Resource) the radial jet drilling (RJD) technology will be investigated and tested as a method to increase the performance of low productive geothermal wells. Radial water jet drilling uses the power of a focused jet of fluids, applied to a rock through a coil inserted in an existing well. The fluid jet is used to cut a 100 m long borehole perpendicular to the existing well into the reservoir rock. Through this borehole, fluid from potentially higher permeable reservoir intervals, initially not connected to the well, can be produced.

The SURE project is coordinated by the GFZ. In the framework of the project, rock physical properties at reservoir conditions will be investigated at GFZ. Furthermore, numerical methods will be developed to predict the long term performance of stimulated geothermal reservoirs. Within GFZ, the Sections 2.2, 2.6, 6.1 as well as 6.4 also contribute to the project objectives.